Low risk deployment passenger airbag system

Abstract

A low risk deployment passenger airbag system has two separate airbags, a top-mounted airbag and a mid-mounted airbag. The top-mounted airbag deploys into the adult occupant's head and upper torso areas without generating substantial downward deployment, while the mid-mounted airbag deploys into the adult occupant's lower torso area without generating substantial upward deployment. This mode of substantially horizontal deployments can provide an out-of-position child with a safe mode of airbag inflation, reducing the risk of neck injuries. An infant in a rear facing child seat receives distributed small forces from two airbags with a possible time delay in initial airbag contact rather than a concentrated large force from the conventional single passenger airbag. The total capacity of the two airbags is about the same as the conventional single passenger airbag and thus can provide as effective protection. The top-mounted airbag has a larger capacity in volume than the mid-mounted airbag and serves as a main airbag for protecting in-position occupants. The mid-mounted airbag may be deployed at low output or no output level for belted occupants during high-speed crashes, which in turn can help reduce the injury values of an infant dummy in a rear facing child seat during the low risk deployment test.